Rockies Top Affiliate Visits Salt Lake

Looking to end the month of June on a high note, the Salt Lake Bees will take on the Albuquerque Isotopes at Smith's Ballpark beginning tonight, June 26 and running through Monday, June 29. The two teams have met twice already this season, with the Isotopes last visiting Salt Lake City just two weeks ago. Coming into tonight's contest, Albuquerque holds a 5-3 edge in the match up and sits three games ahead of Salt Lake in the PCL Pacific Southern standings.

Gary Brown and Alex Yarbrough are currently leading the Bees against the Isotopes. Brown boasts a .300 average with three homeruns and a team-best 10 RBIs against incoming visitors, while Yarbrough is hitting .359 with eight RBIs. Bees starting pitching is 1-4 against Albuquerque with Andrew Heaney picking up the sole win.

Drew Rucinski takes the ball in game one tonight and is followed in the rotation by Adam Wilk and Tyler DeLoach. In his last four starts, Rucinski has tossed 22 innings and gave up six runs for a 2.86 ERA. He has been even better in the month of June as a whole, claiming a 2.12 ERA and limiting opposing hitters to a .271 average, the second lowest among Bees starters.

Despite his 7.28 ERA, Steven Hensley has been clutch out of the Bees bullpen as of late. The righty has not allowed a run in his last three outings and has added only two earned runs to his line over his last five games with nine innings pitched.

The Bees have seen several changes to their roster during this homestand, including the addition of Mike Morin and the loss off Marc Krauss and Andrew Heaney. Morin joins the Bees on an MLB rehabilitation assignment and has one scoreless inning under his belt in a Salt Lake uniform. The No. 1 Angels prospect Heaney received his first call-up of the year on June 24 and Marc Krauss was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays on June 25.

Albuquerque brings to town the Colorado Rockies No. 2 and No. 4 prospects, according the Baseball America, starting pitchers Jon Gray and Eddie Butler. In his second professional season, Gray is 3-5 with a 4.50 ERA with the Isotopes. Butler has collected 11 starts for the Rockies this season and hold a 4.90 ERA. Matt McBryde is leading the Albuquerque offense with 10 homeruns, 22 doubles, 34 RBIs and a .336 batting average.

The Bees remain home through Monday, June 29 before hitting the road to take on Sacramento. The homestand features a Bees batting helmet give away on Friday and a 1:05pm matinee start time on Sunday, June 30. For tickets or for more information, visit www.slbees.com.